Method of and apparatus for supplying gas



mman or um Ayrm'rus ron .surrm'mq eAs rma ny 211938" Y SGP@ 1942. FL aHuNT .2,196,345

Patented Sept. 22, 1942 oFFlca f mamon ol-AND APPARATUS Foa l SUPPLYING G As Franklin B. Hunt, Chicago, Ill., assignor `to The Liquid Carbonio Corporation, Chicago, Ill., av

corporation of Delaware Application May 42, 1938, Serial No. 205,657

(Cl. (i2-91.5)

`1': claims In certain commercial processes, it is necessary to supply a gas at specified rates and at specified temperatures. Specically, the present invention v is designed to provide a method of and apparatus for supplying carbon dioxide gasto a processat a pressure between specified limits and at a predetermined rat'e; but it will be apparent that the invention is applicable to the problem of supplying4 other gases in accordance with speciiled predetermined conditions.

More particularly, certain materials which are gaseous under atmospheric conditions may be handled more efticiently and eiiectively in one of their other phases. Carbon dioxide, for instance, may be most conveniently shipped and handled in its solid phase; and thev present invention will be described in its application to carbon dioxide.

In one particular commercial process, it is required that gaseous carbon dioxide be supplied to the process at, for instance, the rate oi' 5 pounds per minute andai: a pressure, for instance, between 200 pounds per square inch and 300 pounds per square inch. In order to accomplish this result, the solid must be converted to the gaseous phase, should preferably be held at the optimum pressure between, 200 pounds per square inch and 300 pounds per square inch, and

must he released to the process at that optimum pressure and at the rate of 5 pounds per minute.

It is my present beli'ef that the above objects can he most conveniently accomplished' if all of the solid charged into a container is first converted from the solid phase to the liquid phase with, of course, a superimposed vatmosphere of uaseous carbon dioxide, by' warming the mass to cause the phase change; and if thereafter the temperature of the mass is raised to that value which will produce, within the container, the optimum pressure. If, now, the liquid is vaporized at a predetermined rate, gas may be with-- drawn from the container at exactly that rate without varying the pressure conditions within the'container.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the iorms illustrated in the accompanying draw i Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of another form of apparatus which will operate.' with a considerably-less degree of accuracy, to accomplish substantially the same purposes.

I n Fig. 1-, the pipe III represents a conduit leading to the process in which the gas produced is to be used. vA first receiver II and a second receiver I2 are positioned in convenient proximity; and a pipe I3, controlled by a valve M, connects the receiver Il with the pipa lil while a pipe i5, controlled by a valve i8, connects the receiver Il` with the pipe I0.

s conduit n, condones by' a, valve la, leads fromthe upper portion of the receiver Il to a T i9, to the stem oi which is connected a pipe l 20 communicating with the inlet 2i of a compressor 22. The outlet23 of the lcompressor is connected by a pipe 2t, having branches 25 and 26. with heaters 21 and 2t arranged in parallel.

Steam is supplied to the heater 2i through the pipe 2@ and the condensate is exhausted through the pipe 3o; while similarly steam is supplied to the heater 2t through a pipe 3i and the condensate is exhausted through the pipe 32.

Pipes 3 and 34 leave from the heaters il and i8, respectively, to a conduit it.

A valve it is interposed between the conduit t5 and the .heaters 2i and it, on the one hand, and a pipe 31, on the other hand, said pipe 3l leading to a'T S8 which is connected icy a pipe t9 withv the bottom of the receiver ii.

A pipe Iii. controlled hy a valve t i, connects thev upper portion oi the receiver i2 with the 1" I9,

pipe to the lower portion of the receiver i2.

' Leading from the lower portion of thereceiver il is a conduit 46 connected to the inlet of a pump Il of stated liquid capacity. The outlet of said pump is connected by a` pipe 48 with a heater 49 through which steam is circulated, being suppliedl ings, attention being called to the fact, however,

that the drawings a're illustrative only, and that change may be made in the4 speciilc constructions illustrated and described, or in the specific' steps stated, so long as the scope of thegappended claims is not violated. Y

Fig. 1 is a. more or less diagrammatic view of au a ratus capable' oi use to carry out the inppa 55 The apparatus of Fig. l is operated to carry out tended functions Aoi the invention; and

through Athe pipe 5t and exhausted through the pipe 5i., A pipe t2 connects the heater 49 with Similarly, a conduit 63 connects the lower portion of the receiver i2 with the inlet of a pump. 54, which may be substantially identical with theh pump 41. The outlet of said pumpjll is connected by a pipe with a heater 56 through which steam is clrculatedby means of the pipes 51 and 6l. A pipe 59 connects the heater 56 with the T Il.

t heater 12.

upon the rate of continued vaporization in I claim as my invention-z the 1. 'I'he method Voi.' supplying gas to a process l at stated rates and pressures which, comprises'the Y steps of charging solidiiled material into a reprises the steps of charging solid carbon dioxide into a receiver wherein such solid will vaporize, circulating the gas so formed through heating means and back to the receiver to warm Vthe contentsoi' vthe receiver to liquefy all of the solid,

and thereafter drawing liquid from' the receiver at stated ratesand passing the same through a heater, whereby the liquid is vaporized, and sup-' plying the gas so 'iormedto the process.

3. The method of supplying gaseous carbon dioxide to a process at stated rates and pressures which comprises the steps of charging solid carbon dioxide into a receiverwherein' such solid will vaporize, circulating the gas so formed through heating means and back to the Areceiver to raise the temperature of the remaining solid to 70 F. and to melt the solid, thereafter further warming the carbon dioxide by fluid circulation through external iheating means to produce an optimum pressure within the receiver, and

thereafter vaporizing the liquid by circulation thereof, at stated rates,'through external heating means, returning the gas so formed to the receiver, and supplying gas from the receiver to the process.

4. 'I'he method of supp1ying gaseous carbon dioxide to a process continuously at stated rates and pressures which includes practicing the steps ol claim 3, then charging va second receiver with solid carbon dioxide and liquefying the same in said receiver by circulation of fluid between said second receiverv and external heating means,

thereafter iurtherwarming the carbon dioxide inV said second receiver by fluid circulation through external heating means to produce an optimum pressure within said second receiver, all while gas is being supplied to the. process from such first receiver, thereafter vaporizing liquid from such second receiver by circulation thereof at stated rates through externalV heating means, returning the gas so formed to said second receiver, and,l after exhaustion of the available gas from said first receiver, supplying gas from the second receiver tothe process.

. 5. The method" of'supplying. gaseous carbon dioxide to a process continuously at stated rates and pressures which includes practicing the steps of'claim 3, then charging a second receiver with solid carbon dioxide and liquefying the same in said receiver by circulation o! uid between said second receiver and external heating means, thereafter further warming the carbon dioxide in said second receiver by fluid circulation through heating means.

stated rates through external heating means, returning the gas so formed to said second receiver, and, after exhaustion of the available gas from said vilrst receiver, supplying gas from the second receiver to the process and pumping residual gas from the iirst receiver into the circulating 1system.

of the second receiver.

6. Apparatus oi' the class described comprising a ilrst receiver for solid carbon dioxide, a second receiver for solid carbon dioxide, a compressor connecte'd to draw gas from said' ilrst receiven-heating' means, and conduit means connected to lead gas from said compressor through said heating means and thence to said second receiver.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a receiver forI solid carbon dioxide, heating means, a compressor connected to draw gas from said receiver and to torce the same vthrough said heating means and back to saidreceiver, other heating means, and a pump connected to draw liquid from said receiver, tok force the same to and through said other heating means where such liquid is gasiied, and to return such gas to said receiver. l

V'8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a receiver i'or solid carbon dioxide, heating means, a compressor connected to draw gas from said receiver and to force the same through said heating means and back to said receiver, other heating means, conduit means leading from a point adjacent the bottoni1 of said receiver throughrsuch other heating means anclback to said receiver, and -a pump disposed in said conduit means between said receiver and said other 9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a receiver i'or solid carbon dioxide, heating means, a compressor connected to draw gas from -said receiverand to force the same through said heating means and back to said receiver, other heating means, conduit means leading Vfrom a point adjacent the bottom or said receiver gas' is being supplied to the process from such iirst receiver, thereafter vaporizing liquid from through such other heating means and back to said receiver, andapump having a. stated liquid capacity disposed in said conduit means between said receiver and said other heating means.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a ilrst receiver for solid carbon dioxide, a

second receiver for solid carbon dioxide, a heat exchanger outside said receivers, means for sup' plying lheat to such heat exchanger, a compressor, and valved conduit means for selectively connecting said coinpressor to withdraw gas from either of said receivers and to force the same through said heat exchanger and back to the selected receiver. d

11,. Apparatus of the class described comprising a firsty receiver for solid carbon dioxide, a

l second receiver` for solid carbon dioxide, heating' means outside said receivers, a compressor, valved conduit means for selectively connectingsaid compressor to withdraw gas from either of said receivers and to force the same`through said heating means'and back to the selected receiver, a second'heatlng means, pump means connected to withdraw liquid from said first receiver and to force the same' through said second heating means and back to said first receiver, a third heating means, and pump means connected to withdraw liquid fromy said second receiver and to force the same 4through said third heating means and back to said second receiver.

12. The method of deriving gaseous carbon dioxide from a reservoir containing such matetriple point, and thereafter circulating heated liquid dioxide through such reservoir while withdrawing the gas evaporated bythe heating.

14. The method of deriving carbon dioxide gas Ifrom a reservoir containing such material in solid form which comprises heating therreservoir contents to the triple point, piping liquid dioxide from said reservoir to a separate chamber, evaporating the liquid. therein by heating such chamber and passingthe gas evaporated therein into heat transferring relation to said contents and thence to the point of delivery.

l5. The method o! deriving carbon dioxide gas from a reservoir containing such material in solid form which comprises heating the reservoir contents to or above the triple point, piping liquid dioxide from said reservoir to a separate chamber, heating said chamber and the liquid therein, returning the heated carbon dioxideirom said chamber to said reservoir and thereby raising the reservoir pressure to a selected higher pressure, withdrawing gas at a rate to supply the load demand, and regulating the heating to maintain said higher pressure vduring withdrawal. v

l 16. The method o! deriving carbon dioxide v gas from a heat insulated reservoir containing such material in solid form which comprises heating the reservoir contents by 'circulating the gaspresent with the solid carbon dioxide, through a separate heating chamber and back into the reservoir until liquid dioxide forms, then l piping the liquid from the reservoir to the said .heating chamber and retuming the carbon dioxide to the reservoir in circulatory fashion. sum- Acient heat thus being transferred first, to convert the solid into liquid, second, to convert suilicient of the liquid into gas in order to build the pressure of the reservoir up to a selected range above '75 lbs. absolute, and third, to pro-l duce suiilcient gas to supply the load demand within the range of pressures desired and regulating the heating conditions ai'lecting said chamber during gas withdrawals to maintain such selected pressure.

17. The method of deriving carbon dioxide gas from a reservoir containing such material in solid form which includes heating a stream of carbon dioxide gas, circulating such heated stream through such reservoir until the pressure and temperature exceed thev triple point, and thereafter maintaining such pressure and temperature conditions by heating carbon dioxide and passing the same through a circuit including said reservoir, while passing carbon dioxide gas from the reservoir to a point oi delivery at 

